Kani ka uwalo, mele ‘ai pohaku!
Hosted by KAHEA, Na Kahu o Haloa and the Hawaiian Caucus
photo by ian lind
The Ku‘i Kalo record was set this past Tuesday at the Haloa Jam Taro Festival on O‘ahu:
- 350 lbs. of Hawaiian Kalo- no panic, all organic!
- 300 People to Ku‘i i ke Kalo!
- 100 Pohaku Ku‘i ‘ai!
- 50 Papa Ku‘i ‘ai!
and about 600+ folks came to enjoy good healthy food, good roots music and plenny good kine talk story. New friendships were brought face-to-face over shared papa ku‘i ‘ai, pounding and mixing varieties and colors of kalo together into thick pa‘i ‘ai. While old friendships and family connections were renewed in recognizing ancient pohaku ku‘i ‘ai- remembering unique shapes, textures and the coolness and weight of a particular stone last held in childhood. These very stones now gathered in action in the middle of the modern city, by the very greatgrandchildren of the farmers who fed Hawai‘i for thousands of years. Together relishing the first finger-fulls of thick homemade poi, so ‘ono, so natural. Hand pounding alone releases the depth of the root’s rich flavors. The call to gather and ku‘i was heard in the na‘au of many brothers and sisters of Haloa, all excited and honored to share in this historic moment, to share this ancient and sacred food, to share gifts of huli, to share the nourishing traditions of aloha aina.
Got good moments? Please add your photos to this group photo album: http://photobucket.com/oahutarofest2009
- Just click on “Add photos & videos to this group” at the top of the page to upload your photos.
- Use the bulk uploader if you have a lot of photos to upload. It makes it really simple.
- If you have trouble using the group album contact NaKahuoHaloa[at]gmail.com
The Haloa Jam was ‘ono, so they say…
photo by ian lind
- Check out these beauties, from Ian Lind. He really captured the feeling of the festival, was soo lovely! http://ilind.net/gallery_2009/poi032409/index_6.html
- Sweet article from the House blog: http://hawaiihouseblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/poi-pounders.html
Their photos. or slide show, nice shots!
- A friend in the Slow Food Movement, http://blog.shareyourtable.com/2009/03/taro-festival-at-state-capitol.html
- Our hosts, the Hawaiian Caucus: http://melecarroll.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/third-annual-legislative-hawaiian-caucus-day-at-the-state-capitol-showcases-hawaiian-culture-practices-and-values/
PLEASE ADD ANY OTHER PHOTO ALBUM OR ARTICLE LINKS
in the comments section below.
Taro Festival Participants and Activities Included:
- Na Kahu o Haloa – Hawaiian Taro Varieties
- Hui Ku Maoli Ola – Native Hawaiian Plant Nursery
- Hawaiian Kalos - provided by farms in Waiahole, Waihee, Waipao, Waianae, Kanewai, Waimanalo-Oahu; Wailuanui, Keanae-Maui; Halawa-Molokai; Waipio, Pahoa-Hawaii; Waioli, Olokele-Kauai.
- Papahana Kua‘ola – Hands-on Ku‘i Kalo Demonstrations
- Historic Record-Setting of Most Ku‘i Kalo in Modern Times!
- Kalo Farming & Native Stream Ecosystems
- Organic Kalo Farming Techniques
- Ka Papa Lo‘i Kanewai, UH-Manoa – Imu Kalo, Kalo Pa‘a Tasting and huli to kanu!
- KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance- Legislative Advocacy for Taro Farming
- Na Pua No‘eau – Konane Board Making and Kalo Identification & Art
- Halau Ku Mana Charter School – Halau Hula
– Ka Pa Ola & Alana Natural Therapies – Lomilomi
- Green House - Urban Gardening
- HawaiiSeed – Local Farming & GMO Awareness Education
- Invasive Species Awareness Booth
– Papa Ola Lokahi – Hawaiian Health Education
- MANA – Movement for Aloha No ka Aina
- Kanikapila roots music jam session, with members of Guidance, Mauna Lua, JamaHang, Natural Vibes, Kupa‘aina and Miss Paisley of Tempo Valley.
- Kalo Potluck hosted by Onipa‘a Na Hui Kalo – varieties of poi, pa‘i ‘ai, kalo pa‘a taste testing and… kalo poke, kalo curry stew, kalo greek salad, kalo & limu ho‘io salad, kalo matzo ball soup, kalo fritters, three lu‘au stews, sweet fried kalo koina! and…can’t forget the fish and limu from the many seas of Hawai‘i nei!
Mahalo nui loa to the many ‘ohana who came together to ku‘i i ke kalo,
E OLA HALOANAKALAUKAPALILI!
Mahaloz for the wonderful event. I got to take home a taro cutting and looking forward to growing it.
~Miss Paisley.
Love your “No Panic, all organic.” Bryna, you should be in marketing or PR. You made this fun and informational. Good Job!
Mahalo! The original expression, “No panic, go organic!” comes from our friends at MA’O Farms in Wai’anae.
KA PAI!
Check out this video from 2003 of kalo farmers in Wai’anae:
why is it that almost everything “hawaiian” is usually exploited to benefit others? hiking trails are no longer priviledged for the ‘local’ folk, instead, they are written up by outsiders who in turn publish, and make a profit. our water is bottled and sold, the mountain ‘awapuhi’, kukui nut, limu, and now the taro. this does not need to be biogenetically engeneered. taro needs to be left alone inspite of all the diseases that humans continue to generate from years of callouseness. (sp?)
KALAMA Foundation: We at Halau O Limaloa honor, teach, live and respect traditional Hawaiian Spirituality. Our Kumu is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), and has been given the permission, approval and kuleana (responsibility) by his ohana (family) to teach Hawaiian spirituality, as he was taught by his kupuna. Stand tall, learn the traditional ways, and be proud of indigenous knowledge.
so happy to see our culture still thriving. hopefully i can make it next time. =] great job KAHEA. keep up the awesome work.
mahalo
amber
Aloha is hawaii O hana is Hawaii- Hawaiian music is Hawaii Aloha shrits is hawaii :
Pigeon english is Hawaii POI IS HAWAII
No POI HAWAII WILL BE ALL PAU GONE ”’ Don”t give up :GET THE WATER POI IS ABOUT HAWAII
Mahalo Patrick